Call of the wild

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A fragile ecosystem affected by military operations for more than a half-century is now bouncing back in the Great Park in Irvine.

Hawks fly around, bobcats and coyotes look for prey, and asparagus and other crops grow in the park's farm. There's even a new orange grove.

While various developments are planned for the park, wildlife in and around the area will be protected, and some can even migrate using a corridor connecting the South Coast Wilderness with the Cleveland National Forest.

It's all quite a turnaround from the days when the area was occupied by Marine Corps Air Station El Toro and was known for runways that accommodated planes as varied as F-18 Marine Hornets to Air Force One.

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